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Maximilian Sunflower

Helianthus maximiliani

Towering late-season sunflower lining its tall stems with golden blooms top to bottom. A pollinator and songbird feast that can spread vigorously. Like cultivated sunflower, the seed and tuber have documented food use, similar to Jerusalem artichoke.

Family

Asteraceae

Type

wildflower

Lifespan

perennial

Height

3–10 ft

Spacing

2–4 ft apart

Light

sun

Soil moisture

dry, moist

Soil pH

acidic, neutral, alkaline

Bloom

August, September, October, November

Bloom colors

yellow, brown

Wildlife value

songbirds, pollinators, larval host

Caterpillar hosts

~58 butterfly & moth species

Landscape uses

naturalizing

Native states

AR, CO, IA, KS, MA, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NM, OK, PA, SD, TX, WI, WY